Ladder work platform



June 9, 1953 M. B. MCCLURE 2,641,511

' LADDER WORK PLATFORM Filed Jan. 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Milton 3McClure mmvron I June 9, 1953 M. B. M CLURE LADDER WORK PLATFORM 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1950 /////////////////fl//////////////A 8am. 0 @M Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LADDER WORKPLATFORM Milton B. McClure, Atlanta, Ga. Application may 26, 1950,Serial No. 140,575

' This invention relates generally to a ladder attachment, and moreparticularly to a ladder step or work platform that may be adjustablyattached to a ladder and which has an alternative use as a scaffoldsupport for a scafford extendin between two ladders equipped with theattachment.

- The primary object of this invention is to provide a stable supportfor an individual supported by a ladder, and which will support theworker in such a fashion as to permit him to move about horizontally andto have the free use of'his hands, while not subjecting the feet of theworker to the fatigue normally sustained by standing upon narrow ladderrungs, or the like.

Another important object of this invention is to provide such a supportwhich will enhance the stability of the ladder.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide such asupport, which will perform with equal efficiency throughout the entirerange of practical ladder inclinations.

A further important object of this invention is to enable a worker toconveniently straddle a ladder rung so as to increase the workers senseof security against falling, while actually increasing his safety andpermitting him the free use of his hands in the task with which he isoccupied.

Yet another object of this invention is to enable a worker to standerect as near as possible to the vertical surface against which theladder rests.

A meritorious feature of the present invention resides in the threelines of support for the work platform, whereby the optimum security andstability is attained.

Another important feature of the present in-' vention resides in themeans by which the attachment is secured to the ladder, whereby theattachment will remain in adjustaby secured position to the ladder evenwhen the ladder is being moved from one point of use to another point ofuse.

Still another important feature of the present invention resides in themeans provided for adjusting the Work platform angularly with respectwoodor' metal; and in the efficiency and 'durabil- 4 Claims. (Cl. 30431.5)

ityjof the attachment in the use for which the sameis intended.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of theinvention which will later become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodimentof which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the attachment, showing the samesecured in operative. position to a ladder;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sub-platform and the spacing blockand cleats attached thereto;

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the attachment,showingthe same in use upon a ladder and engaging a wall against whichthe ladder rests; and I Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken uponthe plane of the section line 4-4 of Figure 3, a portion of one of thecleats being broken away to show the disposition of one of the membersconnecting the columns.

Reference is now made more specifically to the accompanying drawings,wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the variousviews, and in which a conventional ladder is designated generally by thenumeral It]. The ladder ll includes rails l2 and rungs 14, I6, I8, and20 connecting the rails I2, which rungs have been separately designatedfor a purpose presently to become apparent.

. The ladder attachment designated generally at 22 constitutes thesubject matter of this invention and comprises an elongated workplatform 2-4 and a sub-platform 26, the sub-platform 26 having attachedthereto at one end a pair of spaced cleats 28 and at the other end asecond pair of spaced cleats 3D and a spacer block 32 between the pairsof cleats 28 and 30.

The work platform 24 is disposed so as to extend through the ladder l0and rest upon the ladder rung lB with the sub-platform 26 disposed belowthe platform 24 with the ladder rung l8 received between the cleats 30.The platforms 2'4 and 26 are adjustably secured by means of a bolt 34extending through an elongated slot 35 in the platform 24 and throughaligned apertures 38 through the block 32 and the platform 26. Platforms24 and 26 are adjustably clamped together by means of a nut on the bolt34. It

will be understood that the bolt 34 is slidable in it'bemg noteCfthat'the' platform 26"is restrained against longitudinal movement by thecleats 30.

Means is provided to adjustably support the outer end of the platform24, which means include a pair of vertical columns 42, which columns :32are connected adjacent their upper ends by vertically spaced members orrungs 44 and 46. The outer end of the work platform 24 is slidablyreceived between the members 44 and 4B and the upper end of the columns42 are restrained against longitudinal movement relative to the platform25 by the member 46 being received between the cleats 28. It should benoted at this time that the member M5 and the rung l8 are receivedbetween the cleats and the platforms with Sufficient freedom so as topermit pivotal movement between the platforms and the ladder and. alsobetween the platforms and the columns for a purpose to appearhereinafter.

As best shown in Figure 1, the upper ends of the columns 42 arereinforced by straps 48 embracing the up er ends of the columns 42,which U-shaped straps 4B are retained on the columns 42 and the membersit. and 45 secured to the columns 42 by pins 58 extending through thecolumns, the straps, and the members M and it.

Means is provided to adjustably secure the lower ends of the columns 42to the ladder run 28, which means include latching straps 52 which arehinged intermediate their ends at 5 5, and one end 56 of each is securedby means of bolts 58 to the columns 42. The other end as of each of thestraps 52 are bent to form a plurality of vertically spaced concavedrecesses 62 opposed to the column 42. The column 42 is provided with aplurality of vertically spaced, concaved grooves 64! opposed to therecesses 62, so as to form a plurality of spaces between the strap ends60 and the column 42 for receiving the ladder rung 2H therethrough. Abolt 69, provided, with a wing nut 68, extends through the strap ends 65and the column 42, the arrangement being such. that the strap ends 68may be swung about the hinge 54 towards and away from the column 42 forreceiving the ladder rung and the same clampedtogether to retain theladder rung 20. It should be pointed out that there is suflicientfreedom between the ladder rung 2i) and the. strap 52 and the column 42to permit pivotal movement of the column 42 about the. ladder runs 28..In the preferred c n tr ction, a bolt it extends through the column 42intermediate, the rooves 64 for reinforcing the. column 42 In addition,bear-- ing plates 72 are interposed between the wing nut 68- and thecolumn t2 and pinned to the. column "3.2 to save the column 42 fromundue wear and to convenience the operator when assembling the bolt 66and the wing nut 68.

A hearing block M- extend's transversely across the inner end of theplatform 24 and externally threaded eyebolts it extend through alignedapertures in the block Hi and the platform 24. The block it and theplatform 2A are retained between adjustment nuts 18 disposed on the eyebolts 16, washer plates 80 being pinned to the block and the platformbetween the nuts 18 for protection from wear and to facilitate easyturning of the nuts T8. Rods 82 are secured to the eye bolts 15, as at84,, and are inturned at their upper ends to formv hooks 86 engaging theladder rung I 4.

The uses and advantages of the attachment will be readily understood,The platform 24 is. longitudinally adjustable by means of. the. bolt 34and the. slot 36, and the, platform 24 is also.

angularly adjustable. by means. of the adiust ability and the meansprovided connecting the columns 42 and the rung 20 together with theangular freedom between the platform 24 and the rung I8, the platform 24and the member 46, and the columns 42 and the rung 20. The platforms 24and 26 and the columns 42 are secured to the rungs l8 and 20 by means ofthe fasteners 34 and 66, respectively, in securing the attachment to theladder. The eyebolts it are are then loosened sufiicientlyto permit thebooks 86 to engage the rung l4, whereupon the eyebolt 16 is adjusteddownwardly through the block 14 and the platform 24 by means of the nuts18 suffioientlyto tension the rods 82, and the nuts 18 are eachtightened to securely retain the block 14 and the platform 24 together.It will thus be seen that a worker standing upon the platform 26 maystraddle the rung l6, and, as shown in. Figure 3, the bearing block 14may be moved into engagement with a wall 88 through the longitudinaladjustment of the platform 2:5, in order to stabilize the ladder H).

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the invention willbe readily under-- stood, and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of theforegoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired tolimit. the invention to the exact construction shown and described, butallsuitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the appended elaims. 7

Having described the claimed as new is:

l. A ladder attachment comprising a work platform having inner and outerends, a second platform disposed below said. platform, first and secondpairs ofspaced cleats secured to the top of the second platform, a pairof vertical columns, vertically spaced members connecting the columnsadjacent the upper ends thereof, the outer end of said work platformbeing slidably received between said members, said work platform havingan elongated slot therein, a fastener slidably extending through saidslot and connecting the platforms intermediate said pairs of cleats,said, first pair of cleats receiving the lower of said members rotatablytherebetween and the second pair of cleats, being adapted to receive aselected ladder rung therebetween, and means carried adjacent the lowerends of said columns for adjustably and rotatably securing thev c01-umns. to a ladder rung below the selected rung.

2. A ladder attachment comprising a work platform having inner and outerends, a second platform disposed below said platform, first and secondpairs of spaced cleats secured to the top of the second platform, a pairof vertical. columns, vertically spaced members connecting the columnsadjacent the upper ends thereof, the outer end of said work platformbeing slidably received between said members, said work platform havingan elongated slot therein, a fastener slidably extending through saidslot and connecting the platforms intermediate said pairs of cleats,said first pair of cleats receiving the lower of said members rotatablytherebetwe'en and the second pair of cleats being adapted to receive aselected ladder rung therebetween, and means: carried adjacent the lowerends of: said columns for adjustably and rotatably securing the columnsto a. ladder rung below the selected runs, including a rung strap hingedtoeach of,

invention, what is.

said columns and a fastener releasably securing the strap inrung-engaging position.

3. A ladder attachment comprising a work platform having inner and outerends, a second platform disposed below said platform, first and secondpairs of spaced cleats secured to the top of the second platform, a pairof vertical columns, vertically spaced members connecting the columnsadjacent the upper ends thereof, the outer end of said work platformbeing slidably received between said members, said work platform havingan elongated slot therein, a fastener slidably extending through saidslot and connecting the platforms intermediate said pairs of cleats,said first pair of cleats receiving the lower of said members rotatablytherebetween and the second pair of cleats being adapted to receive aselected ladder rung therebetween, means carried adjacent the lower endsof said columns for adjustably and rotatably securing the columns to aladder rung below the selected rung, and means for supporting the innerend of said work platform from a ladder rung above the selected rung.

4. The combination of claim 3, including a bearing block secured to theinner end of the work platform, said block and said work platform havingaligned apertures, said last means including an externally threadedeyebolt extending through said aligned apertures, a pair of adjustingnuts threaded on said bolt and clamping said work platform and blocktherebetween, a hook carried by the eyebolt for engaging a ladder rungabove the selected rung, and a spacing block carried by the secondplatform through which the fastener connecting the platforms extends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 39,970 Stiles Sept. 15, 1863 1,187,437 Lucas June 13, 19162,019,826 McKee Nov. 5, 1935 2,066,462 Fenton Jan. 5, 1937 2,104,987Harding Jan. 11, 1938 2,432,206 Mott Dec. 9, 1947

